Pre-Health Professions

Pre-Medical

This page provides links to a wide variety of online resources for students considering or planning a career as a physician.  The California State University, Fresno Premed website offers a comprehensive overview of medical school preparation. Be sure to also review the pre-medical prerequisites page and take note of the Essential Student Pre-Med Forms link to the right of this paragraph.

Also available is information regarding diversity in the medical professions, admission requirements to medical school, the MCAT – (Medical College Admission Test), and the Medical School Application Service (MSAR) as well as links to summer academic enrichment programs, on-the-job training, and a one-unit elective research course. (A copy of the MCAT and the MSAR is available to read in the Science and Health Careers Information Center.)

Pre-Medical Resource Links

• Overview of a Career in Medicine - Includes career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, educational programs, and licensure and certification, and inquiries contact information.
• Becoming a physician: frequently asked questions - American Medical Association's FAQ's, including attritubes of a successful physician.
• Considering a Medical Career? Find out what doctors do and how to prepare for a career in medicine.
• AspiringDocs.org - Timeline for applications and admission, MCAT deadline and score schedule, and information and support for diversity in the field of medicine. Includes "Ask the Experts" and "Inspiring Stories".
• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) - This book is an invaluable and essential source of information on medical school admission requirements, class profiles, and much more.  When you apply to medical school you will want a copy.
• Essential information on the MCAT exam - Important part of how medical schools access your application.
• AMCAS (Medical School Application Service) – Most medical schools use this service for initial applications. College transcripts, grades, letters of recommendation, personal essay, etc., are entered here and submitted by AMCAS to the medical schools of your choice.
• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) -
  The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) for MCAT® examinees and AMCAS® applicants, with eligibility guidelines and online application.
• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) - AAMC publications, job center, medical schools, and medical education and research.
• Summer Medical and Dental Education Program and the Association of American Medical Colleges - Summer medical and dental education programs are free and include full tuition, housing, and meals; six-week summer academic enrichment programs that offer freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation. Open to students from historically underrepresented groups.
• St. Agnes (Fresno) Scribe Program - For pre-medical students. Excellent training and experience that includes assisting emergency room physicians on their rounds. An application is required.

Medical School Course Prerequisites

Students should confirm prerequisites with the medical schools to which they are interested in applying.  Some schools may require additional courses not included below.  Check requirements in the MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) available in many book stores.

Check osteopathic medical school requirements if you are applying to D.O. schools. It is essential that you see a pre-medical advisor prior to planning your pre-med program!
Medical schools will consider students with any major as long as the medical school’s prerequisite requirements are met. 

Pre-Dental

This page provides links to valuable online resources for students considering or planning a career in dentistry. To the left is pre-dental preparation information, and pre-dental prerequisites. To the right are links to the CSM Chemistry Department’s Pre-Dental page outlining academic preparation and application procedures to dental school. 

Below are links to an overview of a career in dentistry, a four-year graduation roadmap, summer education programs, information on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and a comprehensive list of U.S. dental schools.

• Overview of a Career in Dentistry
  Career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, need for minority dentists, educational programs, licensure, certification, and registration, and inquiries contact information.
• American Dental Association (ADA)
  A website for students interested in a career in dentistry – provides an overview of the entire preparation and application process, and more.
• Four-year Timeline
  What do you need to do to prepare yourself for dental school? It's more than just taking and doing well in your courses. If you are not on a four-year graduation plan, adapt this timeline from the ADA website to your own roadmap for graduation.
• American Dental Educational Association (ADEA)
  Educational resources including application services, policy and advocacy, professional development, and publications, and video.
• ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools ($35)
  The ADEA  Guide to Dental Schools answers virtually every question about dentistry and the dental school admissions process. You will want to refer to this when you are getting ready to apply.
• Summer Medical and Dental Education Program and the Association of American Medical Colleges - Summer medical and dental education programs are free and include full tuition, housing, and meals; six-week summer academic enrichment programs that offer freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation. Open to students from historically underrepresented groups.
• Information on the DAT Exam
  Required dental admission exam. Includes sections of chemistry, biology, verbal, and perceptual ability.
• American Student Dental Association
  List of dental schools, member resources, and online purchase of ASDA Predental Handbook.

Pre-Dental Pre-Requisites

Students should contact individual dental schools for specific prerequisite information.

It is essential that you see a pre-dental advisor prior to planning your pre-dental program!

Majoring in science is not a must, but completion of pre-dental science requirements is necessary.

Pre-Dental FAQ

Click on the question to view the answer; click again to close the panel.

Pre-Pharmacy

The links below include an overview of various careers in pharmacy, pharmacy school admission, information on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), a comprehensive list of pharmacy schools, and access to the PSAR (Pharmacy School Admission Requirements) - reference guide to pharmacy school admission requirements. (A copy of the PSAR is available to read in the Advising and Resources Center)

• Overview of a Career in Pharmacy - Career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, educational programs, licensure, certification, and registration, and inquiries contact information.
• Pharmacy Career Information - Pharmacists work in a variety of occupational settings – not only in community pharmacies. Get information on the full range of possible pharmacy careers.
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy - Frequently asked questions about pharmacy and admission to pharmacy schools.
• List of pharmacy schools and links to school admission statistics - Includes contact information, admission statistics, course prerequisites, etc.
• PharmCAS: Pharmacy School Application service -
  One-stop-shop for applying to pharmacy schools.  
• Pharmacy School Admission Requirements 
  Provides an overview of individual pharmacy schools. Mission statements, information on curriculum, statistics, admission requirements, gpa data, etc.
• PCAT Test - The PCAT test is not required if you apply in-state, but is for many or most out of state schools.
• PSAR - This reference guide provides prospective pharmacy students and school counselors with specifics about admission requirements for all the professional pharmacy degree programs.

Pre-Pharmacy Prerequisites

This section will be updated soon, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Pre-Optometry

This page provides links to helpful online resources for students considering or planning a career as an optometrist. 

Join the Fresno State Pre-Optometry Club!
Email: fresnostatepreoptometry@gmail.com

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"We are committed to bring together students who are interested in pursuing a career in optometry. We wish to promote the field of optometry and prepare students through informational meetings, professional visitations, test preparation, community service, and general advising."

• Overview of a Career in Optometry - Career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, educational programs, licensure, certification, and registration, and inquiries contact information.
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
  Information of the application process, career information, admission requirements, OAT (Optometry Admission Test), etc.
• OptomCAS Optometry School Application Service
  OptomCAS is the Optometry Centralized Application Service. Through this service applicants may file one application and send it to multiple optometry programs. The schools and colleges of optometry will be able to process applications more efficiently.

Pre-Optometry Prerequisites

Each optometry school has slightly different admission requirements and requirements can change. For courses in English and Psychology, there may be other courses that can substitute for the ones listed. Please check with the schools (see websites below) to get up-to-date information.

Also, if you are considering or planning a career in optometry, it is important to see a pre-optometry advisor as early as possible in your college career.

Pre-Clinical Lab Sciences

Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) work in hospitals, clinics, private laboratories, public health settings, and with pharmaceutical companies. Using laboratory equipment such as microscopes, and cell counters, clinical lab scientists perform testing on cells and fluids. They identify bacteria, viruses, toxic agents, and cancerous tumors in order to diagnosis and treat disease. The prerequisites link to the left includes course requirements, training programs, job listings, and a brief overview of the field.

The links below provide a comprehensive overview of clinical lab schools and careers.

• Overview of a Career in Clinical Laboratory Science - Career description, employment characteristics, salary, educational programs, and inquiries contact information.
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) - Search for programs nationwide in the clinical lab sciences.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - Nature of work, training, employment, job outlook and projections, earnings and wages, and additional resources.

Pre-Clinical Lab Sciences Prerequisites

Requirements will be posted soon, thank you for your patience!

California Code of Regulations for Clinical Laboratory Personnel

Requirements for a CLS Trainee License

Pre-Podiatry

A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM); a podiatrist is trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. Podiatrists have medical education and training comparable to physicians, including and typically two or three years of residency training. Podiatrists can practice surgery, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics or primary care.

The links below offer an overview of a career in podiatric medicine, the APMA, podiatric schools and admission requirements, and an electronic admission application service at e-AACPMAS.

• Overview of a Career in Podiatry - Career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, educational programs, licensure and certification, and inquiries contact information.
• American Podiatric Medical Association - Qualifications, board certification, careers in podiatry, and kinds of conditions and diseases treated by podiatrists.
• Podiatry Schools and Links to Individual Schools - Selected list of U.S. podiatry schools with links.
• AACPM Application Service (e-AACPMAS) for Podiatry - Link to current application provided by the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service.

Pre-Veterinary

Veterinarians are doctors to small, large, and exotic animals including farm and wild animals.  However most veterinarians, about 80%, work with pets; a smaller percentage work as researchers, livestock inspectors, or in food security. In addition to working in private or group practices, veterinarians are also employed by universities, medical schools, private industry, and government agencies (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11).

The links below provide an overview of veterinarian careers, the AVMA, and veterinary medicine colleges.

• Overview of a Career in Veterinary Medicine - Career description, employment characteristics, salary, employment outlook, educational programs, licensure, and inquiries contact information.
• American Veterinary Medical Association - Links to AVMA resources, current scientific issues, journals and references, veterinary resources, jobs, AVMA Annual Convention and services, and resources for the public.
• Association of American Veterinary Medicine Colleges - Click on "Students and Admissions" for a list of U.S. and international veterinary medical schools. Veterinary colleges accrediated by the AMVA.
• American Veterinary Medical Association Application Service (VMCAS) - Application resources, and contact information including a student and advisor hotline.

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants (PA's) work under the supervision of a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy. PA's are required to complete both academic coursework and clinical training. A PA's primary role is to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative medical services and may also include that of researcher, educator, or administrator. Graduates of a PA program must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) to receive state licensure.

The links below provide helpful information on locating Physician Assistant schools, educational clinical requirements, certification, employment and salary, an application service, and state licensure requirements.

Physician Assistant Resource Links

• Physicians Assistant Requirements - The information included on this website is comprised of licensing guides,details on pursing a specialty area of practice, earning a certificate of added qualification (CAQ), preparing for the PANCE exam and salary data that will help individuals get in to and advance in their career.
• PAEA Program Directory - The directory has a map view or a list view, allowing applicants to view the geographical span of PA programs across the country and advanced filtering options such as GRE requirement, veteran support, minimum GPA, etc. Also, added fields for each program such as:
  • Supplemental Fee Waiver
  • Program Matriculants by Gender
  • Program Matriculants by Ethnicity
  • Required Onsite Interview
  • Virtual Experience Hours Accepted
• California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA)
• Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) - Participating programs, FAQ's, and PA Programs Directory.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - Nature of work, training, employment, job outlook, projections, wages and earnings, and additional resources.
• American Academy of Physician Assistants - About physician assistants, physician assistant programs, education and certification, state and federal advocacy and practice resources, and physician assistant news.